Winter hikes at Jungfrau & Zermatt

Short summary – read this first

A couple is planning their first winter trip to Interlaken and Zermatt for 4 and 3 nights respectively in March. They are looking for information about open winter hiking trails and whether Zermatt has similar prepared paths as those in the Jungfrau area. They want tips on finding the status of trails and recommended easy hikes.

Key takeaways:
  • Check the official websites for slope and trail data before your hike.
  • Most cableway stations have information boards showing open trails.
  • Be aware that snow conditions may vary throughout March; check in advance for grooming status.
  • Consider snowshoeing for a different outdoor experience if trails are not suitable for hiking.
  • Use the MeteoSWISS App to keep updated on weather conditions.
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InfoAI-generated summary
  • Anonymous
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    9 February 2020 at 2:33:47 #825158

    I and my wife will stay at Interlaken (4 nights) and Zermatt (3 nights) in this coming March, and we’d love to do some winter hiking.

    1. We’ve hiked in the Jungfrau area in the summer of ’18 and ’19. This will be our first visit there in the winter. I know that there are well-maintained, prepared winter hiking paths (I’ve heard that people can hike on those prepared paths with only regular winter boots). Once we get there, how will we know which trails are actually open? Is there a Web site showing the status or condition of prepared trails? (I couldn’t find one).

    2. This will be our first trip to Zermatt. Are there prepared winter hiking paths at Zermatt like at Jungfrau? If so, can anyone recommend relatively easy winter hikes?

  • Anna
    Moderator
    7727 posts
    Reply 1 of 8 • 9 February 2020 at 7:20:54 #929767

    Hi ChriskK,

    Welcome to MySwissAlps!

    You can go to the website and click on slope data or live data to see which trails are open. In addition, most cableway or mountain railway stations have a big information board next to the ticket counter to highlight open trails and slopes.

    Hope that helps.

    Be sure to read this too: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking

    Regards,

    Anna

    Switzerland trip planning, the easy way

    ➤ MySwissAlps Plan + Package: tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll make it happen. Save time, avoid mistakes. See how it works

    User
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    Reply 2 of 8 • 9 February 2020 at 8:32:59 #929768

    Hi ChriskK-

    http://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/winter-hiking/

    http://www.zermatt.ch/en/winter-hiking-snowshoeing

    http://www.matterhornparadise.ch/en/Experience/Winter-hikes-and-snowshoe-tours

    March is a transition month for snow conditions near the Jungfrau, so, when you travel is important. It is always desirable to give us exact dates of travel because so many tourist activities have schedules or accessibility that vary with seasons.

    Typically, snow conditions deteriorate as March progresses, and, typically, trails grooming will be discontinued at some point.

    I don’t know about Zermatt, but, Furi, where some of the hikes are, is at 1862 meters which is a similar (although a bit lower) altitude to some of the hikes such as this one near the Jungfrau:

    http://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/winter-hiking/royal-walk-maennlichen/

    Slowpoke

    User
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    Reply 3 of 8 • 9 February 2020 at 15:38:33 #929769

    Thanks. I’ll be busy digesting all the information.

    Mark
    Participant
    880 posts
    Reply 4 of 8 • 9 February 2020 at 23:12:40 #929770

    I believe the winter hiking trails in Jungfrau area are maintained from December 1 through March 31 so the earlier in April you go the more likely they will be doable. You might also check on snowshoeing availability as well. you can’t go as far or as fast as hiking but it is a nice outdoor experience too. Mark

    User
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    Reply 5 of 8 • 9 February 2020 at 23:45:21 #929771

    Hi Mark-

    They are g0ing in March, but we don’t know the exact dates.

    I hope the trails are groomed until March 31. Somewhere, I read or heard that the last days were “flexible.” 😉

    Slowpoke

    Mark
    Participant
    880 posts
    Reply 6 of 8 • 10 February 2020 at 0:07:46 #929772

    Hi Slowpoke

    Sorry I don’t know where I got April from. From the photos I’ve seen it looks like the trails are packed down and smoothed possibly by something like a ski slope grooming machine. I have never personally been there in March so I really don’t know for sure but I would think there would be plenty of snow in March most years. Of course if it gets very warm for a string of days there’s not much you can do with slushy trails I would guess.

    Mark

    User
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    Reply 7 of 8 • 10 February 2020 at 0:08:14 #929773

    We’ll have 4 nights at Interlaken (March 11-14) and 3 nights at Zermatt (March 15-17). So, the winter trails will be groomed during our stays. I hope weather will be decent!

    User
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    Reply 8 of 8 • 10 February 2020 at 11:21:53 #929774

    I hope so for you too! 🙂

    Find input about the weather in below links and the very practical MeteoSWISS App in the last link:
    http://www.myswissalps.com/besttimetovisit
    http://www.myswissalps.com/weather
    http://www.myswissalps.com/aboutswitzerland/practical/websites

    Best,
    Steph

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